10th February 2025

10th February 2025


Pray (ACts)


Read (Psalm 19:7-11 & 3 Tim 3:16-17)


Message (Alan Burke) 


This week and next I’ll be on sabbatical so I thought I’d do the devotions on the Westminster Shorter Catechism Question and Answer that we have been using every day at the bottom of these devotions. The Catechism is a succinct summary of the Christian Faith and as I have said before Scott and I both believe that in the day and age we live in it is one of the best discipleship tools available for you to grow in your knowledge and love of the Lord. Today is Q3 What do the scriptures principally teach? I’ll try to keep this succinct otherwise you might be sitting all day reading this devotion. 


I don’t know if you have ever been to Castlerock beach, but there are warning signs displayed, warning of the undercurrents and the dangers of being swept out. Last summer when I was up I wanted to go to downhill but Castlerock was the preference of the rest of the family so it won. It was fairly calm, the surfboard wasn’t going to be much use but with the wetsuit on I went for a wee paddle, and once more was confronted with why the warning signs displayed, warning of the undercurrents and the dangers of being swept out are there. I’d say I’m confident in the water but many aren’t and every year there are so many people, who end up in trouble because of those undercurrents, they go for a swim not aware of the dangers or the importance of swimming in the area that is patrolled by the lifeguards, while there are those who for some reason think the best place to swim is the Barmouth. 


The signs are there, giving directions and warnings for a good reason, they are there for the benefit of everyone and those who ignore them or who just don’t take the time to read them are most likely going to suffer the consequence. Well God has given us his word, it’s the instruction manual of life, it’s for our best, it’s to save us pain, it’s so that we as his people live life to the full, that we get the most out of life and that we bring glory to our maker. Yet there are plenty of people who just get on with life, instead of looking to the instructions, the guide book, instead they fumble about in the darkened room and they wonder why this life is far from how they would want it or desire it to be. 


The imagery of the word of God that is used in Psalm 19 of how the law of the Lord is perfect, refreshes, trustworthy, how it makes wise, it is right, gives joy, it words are radiant, pure, firm, more precious than gold, sweeter than honey is what Paul had in mind when he wrote these words to encourage Timothy in 2 Timothy 3. What it teaches is that God’s word, all of it is profitable for, it teaches us what is true it reproves us when we do things that are wrong, it corrects us about what we should believe and practice, it trains us in how to live so that we please the God who made and saved us.


This verse links believing the right things with doing the right things. It’s not enough just to believe certain facts to be true. We need to live by them and see the duty they requires of us. God that he has given us the instruction manual for life, his word, it’s for our best, it’s to save us pain, it’s so that we as his people live life to the full, that we get the most out of life and that we bring glory to Him our maker. Let’s remember those words of Psalm 19, meditate on them as we have God’s word readily available to us on our phones, tablets, on the computer, we have many different translations, we can get it in many different languages, let it teach us about God, and about our duties here on earth, let it be our manual for living.


God’s word is not just something comforting to read when you need a lift. It’s what you need to know and understand to live as you should in God’s world. It’s how you learn about the work of the Saviour who alone makes us able to understand and to do what God says. The Bible is where you learn how to glorify God and to enjoy him both now and forever. When you get asked what the bible is about you can say what we are to believe concerning God and how we are to live in light of that.


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC
Q3 What do the scriptures principally teach?
The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.
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